Police in southern India said they had seized a copy of the Holy Quran purported to be more than 300 years old and transcribed by a Mughal emperor. They said they raided a Banglaore hotel and arrested a man who was trying to hawk the holy book and an antique Indian painting of the Tanjore School for a total of $1.12 million.

The 1,000-page Holy Quran, coated with a chemical that made it fireproof, weighed 13 kilograms and contained a signature supposedly belonging to Emperor Aurangzeb on the last page. Each page emanated a different fragrance, and the 30 sections were all written in different calligraphic styles, according to local media reports.

A 44-year-old man was arrested because he could not explain how he came into possession of the book or prove that he owned it, said the police commissioner. Aurangzeb ruled from 1658 to 1707, basing his reign on strict adherence to Islam. Considered the last great Mughal ruler, he expanded the empire to its greatest extent, encompassing all but the southern tip of the subcontinent.

“We have invited experts … to determine its genuineness. If it is indeed an antique and was written by Aurangzeb, it would have great value.” –Police Commissioner N. Achutha Rao